Corpus Christi Blog

The Sower and the Soil

07-13-2014HomiliesFr. Chad King

Many of you might be anticipating what the homily from your new priest will be like.  You might be used to very different styles, you might like it when a priest preaches from in front of the Altar because you might feel more engaged that way.  Or perhaps you don’t care where he preaches from, just as long as it is relatable and beneficial.  Before I begin my reflection on the readings, I wanted to let you know of my preaching style and why.   After praying and trying to discern God’s promptings, I write out my homilies for every Sunday and so I preach from the Ambo- and there are several reasons for that.  One reason is that you might know, or I’m sure will eventually find out, is that I stutter.  I have stuttered since childhood, and although I have learned to control it fairly well over the years; it helps me if I write out my homily.  That way I can say what I really want to say and my brain can just focus on delivering the message fluently.  Also though, it helps me be able to not ramble on and on without any direction or flow to what I’m saying.  So hopefully you will at least appreciate that.  And now for my homily.

Our Gospel today is the well-known parable of the Sower.  I am sure many of us have heard it several times, and hopefully every time it makes us think about how receptive are we, what kind of soil is our hearts made up of.  But before we reflect on that, let us appreciate something from our Gospel which sometimes might be over-looked. 

Jesus is directing this parable, and in fact all the parables to, as our Gospel begins, the large crowds that have gathered around Jesus.  His  disciples though privately asked Jesus why he speaks to the crowds in parables in the first place.  To his disciples Jesus answers, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them, the crowds, it has not been granted”.  Notice here that Jesus wants every person to know him, he speaks in a way so that every person can hear his message about the kingdom of Heaven. But Jesus goes on to say, they look but do not see and hear but do not understand,  therefore in the parables Jesus tries to use the language of the people, he uses ideas that are relatable so they can understand and truly hear what Jesus is saying.  And so, my brothers and sisters, the parables are to teach those who are curious and not yet disciples of Jesus, something about God; the parables are to reveal in a language they can understand something about the mystery of God.  So let us first look at what this parable about the sower who goes and spread seeds reveals about who God is?  The parable says that the sower went out to sow, that is he spread seed that will hopefully grow and bear fruit.  Some seed fell on rocky ground where there were little or shallow soil and the roots could not grow.  Some seed fell among thorns and as the seed grew it was choked because of the thorns.  But some seed fell on good rich soil which would produce the fruit; that is the soil was able to bring out the potential of the seed.  But notice how carelessly the sower sowed the seed.  At the time of Jesus, seed was very expensive and even if planted in good soil it was always a risk, therefore it is reasonable to think that the sower was not a very good job.  One would think that at least the sower should measure and test the soil before he scatters the seed and only sow where there was the best opportunity of growth. 

Remember this is a parable, it is meant to be a relatable message but it is supposed to teach us about the mystery of God.  So what does this parable teach us?  God is the sower who sows seed everywhere, far and wide.  He doesn’t calculate if it is worth sowing in a certain area, he doesn’t measure the soil, but he sows everywhere.  Even though it means that some seed will not respond and will not grow, still he sows.  God is generous, he gives, without calculating the cost.  That is what Grace is- love freely given without repayment.  That is what God does, God loves freely and gives freely.  God loves even when there isn’t a response, he gives even though there might not be a repayment.  God gave himself up to death for the salvation of every single person; God reveals himself to every person and invites all to know him and to have life, even to those who God knows won’t say yes; God gives even to those who do not respond.  Do we sow like that, do we give that freely, do we love even the people who do not love us back?  Thanks be to God that he doesn’t stop giving when we don’t respond as we should.

Even though God will give anyways, he wants us to respond.  So as I remind you about what Jesus tells the meaning of the parable to be, let us reflect on ourselves and see what kind of soil is our hearts and how well we receive what is planted in our hearts.  Jesus explains that the seed sown on the path is the word of the kingdom.  The seed is the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the seed is the good news of salvation.  Jesus explains the seed sown on the path is like one who hears the word of the kingdom but doesn’t understand it.  Perhaps you have heard the word of God proclaimed and preached every Sunday, but really don’t understand it.  Do you read and prayerfully reflect on the readings before Sunday for yourself?  If you don’t understand the bible, how often do you read it?  Do you read Catholic study bibles or Catholic commentaries that can help explain it?  

Jesus says the seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it with great joy.  But it has no root and lasts only until persecution or tribulation comes.  Is the good news and joy of knowing Jesus Christ only good when your life is going good, or do you still have the same joy even through the trials?  Many people hear the word and enjoy it for the time, but if they don’t plant the message deep down, there is no roots and can easily die.

Jesus says the seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit.  What worldly good and pleasure is crowding out the true most important good of intimately knowing and following Jesus Christ?  Have you planted your faith deep down in your heart?  Have you made it the foundation of every aspect of your life, so that it can grow strong and not be impacted by the earthly pleasures.

My brothers and sisters, I encourage you to take some time this week and prayerfully re-read and reflect on this parable.  If you can come to the Adoration chapel and ask God to reveal himself to you in a deeper way, if you need to come to the Sacrament of Confession to throw out the rocks and thorns, times are as advertised or I’m available by appointment. Take some time in prayer and ask God to make the soil of your heart fertile so that the seed of his intimate love can be planted deep within you and bear much fruit in your life and in the life of others.

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